Sexual violence touches all of our lives, Walk Against Rape is the chance to say NO! to sexual violence in our communities. March with us as we speak out against sexual violence and rape. Let’s make our voices and stories known. Silence is not golden!

Walk Against Rape is an opportunity for the communities of San Francisco to come together and raise awareness around sexual assault. Statistics show that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 11 men will be raped in their lifetimes, and it is estimated that less than 20% or rapes are reported to the police. The silence and taboo around rape in our society cause survivors to feel isolated and unsupported. The goal of Walk Against Rape is to empower survivors, their friends, families and supporters, to break that silence by walking together on the streets against rape, and declare that San Francisco will not tolerate sexual violence.

As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Walk Against Rape will be held on Saturday, April 30th, 2011. Walk Against Rape is a 3.5 mile walk starting at The Women’s Building at 10:00AM and culminating in a festival at 1:00PM at Potrero del Sol Park (“La Raza Park). Walkers will arrive in the park to find speakers, performances, vendors, the Clothesline Project on display, prizes for the highest fundraisers, several community organizations who will be offering information and resources, and food and drink. Walkers interested in participating can download a registration form and begin to collect donations from their friends and family. All proceeds will benefit San Francisco Women Against Rape.

SFWAR, San Francisco’s only community based rape crisis center, provides resources, support, advocacy and education to strengthen the work of all individuals, and communities in San Francisco that are responding to, healing from, and struggling to end sexual violence. At SFWAR, we believe that no single individual, organization, foundation, or business alone can stop the epidemic of sexual assault, but by responding as a whole community, we each bring our piece of the solution. We believe that education and community grassroots organizing are key tools to end sexual violence in our society.

Walk Against Rape aims to:Raise awareness in San Francisco around issues of sexual violence.Provide a space for survivors of sexual violence to heal and celebrate their survival.Educate communities about the resources available in the aftermath of an assault.Raise money for San Francisco’s only community based rape crisis center.Create community around shared experiences of sexual violence so as to not isolate further the experience.To make visible what has historically been silenced and invisible.